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Marion Cotillard Confronts Rumors About Dark Knight Rises Role

Ever since Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard signed on for The Dark Knight Rises (reuniting her with Inception director Christopher Nolan), there's been a good deal of speculation about who exactly she is playing in the Batman trilogy finale. Even after it was officially announced that Cotillard had been cast as "Miranda Tate", that did little to weather rumors that her character will have a secret identity in the film.

THR recently did a piece on Cotillard, wherein the actress spills a few details about her part in Dark Knight Rises - while also (seemingly...) shooting down a longtime rumor about her character. Suffice it to say, you should not read on if you wish to avoid knowing anything else about the highly-anticipated blockbuster.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

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Here is an excerpt from THR's report, which concerns Cotillard in Dark Knight Rises:

All [Cotillard will] confirm is that, contrary to some fans' belief, she does not play Talia, the vengeful daughter of Liam Neeson's character, Ra's Al Ghul (who also appeared in 'Batman Begins'), and that she takes the role of Miranda Tate, an ecologically minded businesswoman who "is fascinated by Wayne Enterprises. They go through difficulties, and she wants to help provide the world clean energies. She's a good guy." But does she stay that way? "Yes," she insists.

Now, there are a couple ways you can take Cotillard's statement (assuming she's not just flat-out lying):

Cotillard is playing "Talia al Ghul" - that is, a character who has ties to the League of Shadows (and Bane?), but falls in love with Batman and sides with him by the conclusion of Dark Knight Rises. In other words, a version of Talia (with a different name) who proves to be less conflicted about where her loyalties ultimately lie, than her comic book counterpart usually does.

Honestly? Right now (to this writer, at least) that second option seems like too much of a stretch, especially when you consider how much Cotillard's character has been downplayed in the Dark Knight Rises marketing to date - compared to, say, another enigmatic supporting player like Joseph Gordon-Levitt as cop John Blake.

If Miranda Tate does prove to be little more than a Rachel Dawes replacement, that could prove to be for the best - especially since she'll therefore serve as a proper foil to Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Anne Hathaway), whose allegiances look to be constantly shifting throughout Dark Knight Rises. Plus, it would help to ensure that the film doesn't suffer from the same villain overload that has severely weakened previous comic book flicks (Spider-Man 3, looking at you).

Lastly - if Miranda Tate is just an innocent bystander, then what exactly was she getting up to in these Dark Knight Rises set videos? Is she a rebel Gothamite, standing up to the masked terrorist? Or the ringleader of the siege?

All those questions will be answered at last when The Dark Knight Rises arrives in theaters around the U.S. on July 20th, 2012. In the meantime, feel free to debate this matter in the comments section.